Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. (Transport Ministry)
President William Ruto has nominated Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen as the new Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports.
Murkomen, who will take over from Ababu Namwamba if Parliament approves his nomination to return to the cabinet, had previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works before his dismissal on July 11, 2024, along with other cabinet members.
The cabinet's changes come after weeks of protests against runaway corruption in government and a lack of accountability in the use of taxpayers' money.
Before announcing the new cabinet nominees, President William Ruto announced new measures in his address that aim to eradicate corruption and ensure accountability of leaders.
Murkomen's likely return to the Cabinet as the new CS for Sports aligns perfectly with his recreational interests.
The 45-year-old is an avid football player and fan, as evidenced by his social media posts.
As a senator, Murkomen turned out for Bunge FC, and beyond that, he participated in several marathons and shared photos and videos of himself out on morning runs, demonstrating his passion for sports and fitness.
As a Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Murkomen leveled up his interests in sports by visiting Old Trafford to watch his favorite Premier League club, Manchester United, play and also traveled to Qatar to watch matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Beyond that, as is the habit of most Kenyan leaders and politicians, Murkomen never fails to congratulate Kenyan sportspeople, particularly athletes, for faring well in international competition.
Additionally, Murkomen organized the OKM Football Tournament during his time as Sports CS with the goal of uniting warring communities in the bandit-prone counties of Baringo, his home Elgeyo-Marakwet, and West Pokot.
It goes without saying that Murkomen will scale up his involvement in sports now that he has been nominated for the Sports CS, an appointment that comes at a time when the country is grappling with a lack of enough quality football stadiums, a reality that now sees the national football team, Harambee Stars, and Kenyan football teams hosting their international football matches abroad.
Murkomen, in addition to spearheading the improvement of the country's sports infrastructure, will be looked upon to provide guidance and leadership as the country prepares to host the 2027 African Cup of Nations with its East African neighbors, Tanzania and Uganda.
Being an advocate, just like his predecessor Ababu Namwamba, Murkomen will also be expected to address the loopholes in the Sports Act, which have turned sports bodies and federations into litigious entities that spend more time at the Sports Tribunal arguing cases than administering their respective sports.
The Junior Starlets' preparation for their debut at the 2024 FIFA Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic in October presents an opportunity for Murkomen to enjoy an early highlight in his reign as the Sports CS. As soon as Murkomen assumes office, preparing the team to compete and fly the nation's flag high in Kenya's first ever appearance at a World Cup competition of any age category or gender should rank highly in his priority list.
Murkomen will also be responsible for deciding on the future of the Talanta Hela Initiative, a project that represents Namwamba's mixed legacy at the Ministry of Sports. Critics have already criticized the initiative for replicating the actions of sports bodies and other institutions in the arts and creative industries, leading to conflict and confusion about how the Ministry's agenda aligns with the roles and purposes of these entities.
While at the helm of the Ministry of Sports, eyes will also be on Murkomen to see which policies he will formulate to safeguard the future of Kenyan sports. Hardly has the Kenyan sports minister demonstrated vision in that regard, particularly in investing in community sports facilities, which play a big role in nurturing talent at the grassroots.
There are a lot of sports in which the nation used to thrive in the past, such as boxing and hockey. It will be absolutely necessary that Murkomen look at ways of restoring those sports to their former glory.
There are also sports that are threatened with decline, such as boxing and hockey, if no action is taken to revitalize them. These include sports such as basketball and volleyball.
Sports in which Kenya has been a traditional powerhouse, such as rugby and athletics, also require safeguarding.
There are also emerging disciplines such as martial arts sports like judo, karate, and taekwondo, as well as fencing. These, along with others like swimming, will also require policy frameworks to support their growth and development.
